"Rapper Angel Haze was a spitfire at Perry's stage with her searing flow 'Running like a slave through the underground tunnel,'" Legaspi said. "She spat, repeating 'I run New York' in her compelling 'New York.' On the poppier side of the spectrum, twin sisters Tegan and Sara were downright bubbly in comparison. Their recent 'Hearttrob' propelled the once-folkier singers into arena-reaching territory."

The Cure got the crowd to sing along to some of the band's biggest hits after they took the stage, reported Greg Kot, music critic for the Chicago Tribune.

"Even Goth-rockers love sing-alongs," Kot said his review. "After the opening synth chords, the Cure's Robert Smith begins to belt out 'Just Like Heaven' and is instantly joined by a Grant Park choir numbering in the tens of thousands. Smith and his band mates sprinkle The Cure classics such as 'Pictures of You' and 'Friday I'm in Love' through a set that continues the weekend's '80s nostalgia theme, begun by New Order and Nine Inch Nails."

On Saturday, former James Brown impersonator Charles Bradley impressed Leonie Cooper of The Guardian with Bradley's own R&B renditions from an album high-energy entertainer released in 2011.

Tina Sfondels said in the Chicago Sun-Times review of Day 1 that Chicago rapper Chance earned the right to be on one of the main stages next year, attractive an overflow crowd and delivering an audience-pleasing performance.

"Speakers blasted old ‘90s rap and dance songs to the thrilled teens," Sfondels wrote on Marcus Gilmer's Sun-Times blog. "Once on stage, Chance was great and humble — telling the crowd that performing at the festival was one of the greatest things he’s ever done. He made up for the late start, playing at least 10 minutes later. But I must stress, Chance in no way belonged at this stage. There were way too many actual fans there who deserved to see their new favorite rapper on one of the giant stages."